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Transition from Student to Professional with Ease
At Nova Southeastern University, you’re guided every step of the way as you study and prepare for your dream job.
The Office of Placement Services is here to help you complete the field and clinical experiences required for your degree by placing you with the best opportunity based on your location.
Placement opportunities include school-based field experiences and internships (for initial certification only).
Contact the Office of Placement Services
Please contact our office at ops@nova.edu for security clearance and placement procedures in a Pre-K–12 classroom:
Lillian Greico
Assistant Director - Program Operations and Placement Services/Instructor
Email: greico@nova.edu
Phone: (954) 547-0144
Placement
Field experiences provide vital links between educational theory and practice. Apply
what you’ve learned in actual classrooms and school settings and acquire competencies
necessary for successful teaching. You’ll learn from your successes and mistakes while
being supported by caring teachers in a positive, nurturing environment.
School-Based Field Experience
School-based field experiences are recognized as critical components of teacher education.
NSU’s College of Education is committed to providing quality field experiences for
all education majors as an integral part of pre-service training.
The Florida state legislature has mandated that all education majors in Florida Department of Education (DOE)–approved teacher preparation programs participate in a planned series of field experiences. Field experiences must begin early in the program and culminate with the final internship. During these experiences, teacher candidates should be given the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the Florida DOE–developed Accomplished Practices and Subject Area Competencies and Skills. In addition, teacher candidates must be provided with guidance and feedback in the field setting.
Designated education courses in the Teacher Education Program curriculum include assignments that require you to visit and participate in Pre-K–12 classroom activities. These school-based experiences vary depending on the Accomplished Practices and Subject Area Competencies and Skills required in the course.
Supervised Field Experience
In order to improve your skills as a teacher candidate, an assigned University supervisor will observe and provide feedback during the field experiences of specified courses.
The following courses are key content courses in which University supervisors observe the teacher candidate's classroom skills.
B.S. in Elementary Education
- ELEM 4535: Inquiry Approaches to STEM Education in the Elementary Classroom
- ELEM 4815: Integrating Art and Music Education Across the Curriculum
B.S. in Exceptional Student Education
- ESED 4550: Methods and Teaching Materials for Teaching SLD Learners
B.S. in Secondary Biology Education
- SECE 3550: Methods of Teaching Secondary Science
B.S. in Secondary English Education
- SECE 4370: Methods of Teaching Middle and Secondary English
B.S. Secondary Mathematics Education
- SECE 4350: Methods of Teaching Math in Secondary School
B.S. in Secondary Social Studies Education
- SECE 3530: Methods of Teaching Middle and Secondary Social Science
The Teacher Candidate is responsible for coordinating an observation time that is agreeable to both the Cooperating Teacher and the University Supervisor.
- The University Supervisor and the Teacher Candidate will have a pre-observation conference to review the teacher candidate's lesson plan and teaching strategies.
- The University Supervisor will observe the Teacher Candidate's lesson presentation, classroom management skills, and other instructional duties.
- The University Supervisor may confer with the cooperating teacher.
- The University Supervisor will conduct a post-observation conference with the Teacher Candidate to provide actionable feedback and review the Teacher Candidate's assessment of the lesson. This feedback will be documented and uploaded to the current data assessment system.
Field Experience Glossary
Teacher Candidate: A student registered for undergraduate courses, which require field experience.
Cooperating Teacher: The teacher in whose classroom an NSU student is placed for field experiences.
Student: Each child in the classroom at the school where field experiences are done.
Instructor: The NSU full-time faculty member/adjunct education course instructor.
University Supervisor: The university representative who observes teacher candidates during field experiences and provides evaluative feedback to the teacher candidate and instructor.
Accomplished Practices and Subject Area Competencies: A series of 12 professional aspects key to effective teaching. The 12 areas are assessment, communication, continuous improvement, critical thinking, diversity, ethics, human development and learning, knowledge of subject matter, learning environments, planning, role of the teacher, and technology.
Matriculation: Enrollment and admission into the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program.
Internship for B.S. Students
The Internship is the culminating academic experience in the state approved programs, where Teacher Candidates apply their cumulative knowledge in a K-12 classroom. The clinical hours are completed through a 12-week placement where the candidate gradually assumes full responsibility of the classroom with the support and mentoring of a Cooperating Teacher and a University Supervisor. The 16 week concurrent seminar serves as a supportive and reinforcing component.
Internship Requirements
If a candidate does not meet all of the following requirements, the internship application will be denied until all requirements are met. Conditional acceptance will be granted for candidates who are enrolled in their final required courses and/or registered for their last DOE certification exam. Full acceptance into the internship will be given upon completion of pending courses and/or exams with proof of passing certification exam scores.
To be fully accepted into the internship, you must meet the following prerequisites:
- Completed and passed all coursework (including general education requirements, program requirements, and all courses required for the major, with the exception of the internship)
- Earned a minimum overall GPA of 3.0
- Current fingerprints and background security clearance have been verified by the Office of Placement Services
- Florida students: Passing scores for all parts of the General Knowledge Test, the Professional Examination, and Subject Area Examination; official scores must be provided to the Office of Placement Services at least two months before the start of the internship
Applying to the Internship
You are required to complete and submit the internship application before the deadline,
as follows:
Fall semester deadline: February 1
Winter semester deadline: August 1
After the application is received, your file is reviewed for completion of all requirements. You will receive a copy of a completed senior audit with a letter indicating your internship status (conditionally approved or denied). The Office of Placement Services coordinator develops a final list of student intern names for that semester, which is given to academic advisers and academic program managers so that they can assist students with registration at least one month before the internship start date. At that time, you will register for the appropriate 4570 internship seminar course (B.S. - UTEP).
You are eligible for the internship if you have (1) earned the mandatory credits (including all general education requirements, all program requirements, and all courses required for the major, except the internship), (2) have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, and (3) have passed all specified testing requirements.
The Internship Handbook is the students' source of information to guide them through the 12-week internship experience. Fully-approved interns will be provided with the most current handbook by the Office of Placement Services.
Testing and Certification
Your education degree prepares you to sit for your teaching certification exam. Testing requirements differ for Florida candidates and Nevada candidates.
Florida Candidates
Florida candidates graduating from a Department of Education–approved program who have passed all portions of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) are eligible for a professional certificate or endorsement. Actual teacher certification or endorsement is awarded by the Florida Department of Education (DOE).
Florida Department of Education (DOE)
Florida DOE Educator Certification
Below is the latest information on score report timelines for tests being redeveloped or revised.
Tests with only multiple-choice questions
- Score reports released within four weeks of the test date
- Unofficial score reports provided at the test site
Test types: English 6–12; General Knowledge Test Essay; Spanish K–12; Speech 6–12
- Score reports released within six weeks of the test date
- You will receive a Receipt of Completion at the test site to keep until you have received a copy of your official score report
- NSU Testing Office
- Pearson (Note: The Florida Department of Education contracts with Pearson Vue to provide testing services. Tips and resources for completing Pearson-provided examinations are provided at this link.)
